KOCHI: Education Minister C Raveendranath on Saturday said the surging cost of medical treatment was making modern healthcare unaffordable to more and more patients, despite technological advances in the medical sector. The minister was speaking at the valedictory function of the diamond jubilee celebrations of Lisie Hospital here.
“Recent studies, especially the one that won the Nobel Prize in Medicine, indicate that the sector is in for a tremendous growth. Existing treatment methods are also set to undergo a big change. Modern treatment facilities should be made available to everyone at affordable costs,” said the Minister. The function was presided over by Syro-Malabar Church head Mar George Cardinal Alencherry.
Lisie Hospital director Fr Mathew Vaikathuparampil welcomed the gathering, while Ernakulam-Angamaly Auxiliary Bishop Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath, who is also chairman of the hospital, presented a brief history of the hospital. On the occasion, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy dedicated the Lisie Heart Institute to the public, and Verapoly Archbishop Francis Kakllarackal inaugurated the renovated pharmaceutical unit. Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal released the medical directory, while Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain declared accreditation of the Green Operation Theatre at the hospital.
K V Thomas MP honoured doctors who completed 25 years of service at Lisie. The other employees of the hospital who completed 25 years of service were honoured by Roji John MLA, and the transplant teams of the hospital were honoured by Archdiocese Pro-vicar General Monsignor Sebastian Vadakumpadan. S Sarma MLA announced the proposed Lisie Cancer Institute and Research Centre, while P T Thomas announced the new campus of the pharmacy college at Vennala. Scholarship merit awards were distributed by Corporation councillor Gracy Joseph.